Debutants set to dazzle in Wyong season finale
A group of late season unraced metropolitan two-year-olds lock horns in a Maiden Handicap over 1300m, and it might just provide an early pointer for some feature three-year-old targets heading towards spring.
In fact, only two runners with race experience in the original 13-strong field – Menshevik and Watson, both quoted around the $6.50 mark in early betting – are in single figures for what looms as a fascinating race.
And two debutants look set to fight for favouritism in a race where punters could support many on show.
Impuriteze, a striking chestnut filly by multiple Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist, looms as a key runner for the Michael Freedman stable at Randwick.
She starts behind two progressive trials on both firm and soft ground, and draws to get an economical run under jockey Keagan Latham who sticks solid from the latest trial.
But right alongside her in the market is exciting colt Extra Heights, a son of high-class sprint sire Extreme Choice in the rival Peter Snowden yard.
He also opens his career behind two progressive trials, and significantly was withdrawn from a race at Canterbury on Wednesday to be saved for this.
Extra Heights, who was eye-catching through the line at his most recent trial, drew the inside with Tom Sherry aboard.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
an hour ago
- Herald Sun
Jockey Martin Harley keen to resume Cool Archie partnership
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. A rejuvenated Martin Harley is hoping that gun colt Cool Archie can put him on the map in the same way that mighty mare Winx defined the career of fellow jockey Hugh Bowman. Irish hoop Harley returned to Brisbane on Saturday night after a much-needed holiday back home where he celebrated his epic Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) victory on Cool Archie at Eagle Farm last month with family and friends. Of course, Harley doesn't expect the Chris and Corey Munce-trained colt to win a world-record 33 consecutive races like the legendary Winx, but he knows that a quality horse like Cool Archie comes along once in a blue moon. Winx had six different riders during her illustrious career that netted more than $26m in prizemoney before her retirement in April 2019, but she will forever be associated with Bowman and champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Harley's JJ Atkins victory – which broke a 10-year drought since his last Group 1 – was just reward for his hard work, dedication and persistence after overcoming a potentially career-threatening broken neck suffered in a sickening mid-week race fall in 2023. 'The real exciting thing about having a serious injury two years ago to even being not sure if I'd ride again and then for him to do what he did and put me back on the Group 1 map, in a way he certainly has changed my life in different avenues,' Harley said. 'A lot of jockeys can win if they get the right animal but when you stumble across a horse like that, it could be real life-changing moving forward. 'Look at the Winx story regarding Hugh Bowman. And I'm not saying it'll be like that but he could be an Everest horse and (owner) Max Whitby obviously has a slot. 'There could be serious potential going forward so I'll keep my fingers crossed and we'll take it from there. To live the dream like that would be unbelievable.' • Beriman's appeal for concussion protocols to be strengthened Whitby has declared that Cool Archie should be a shoo-in for Australian Two Year Old of the Year honours during a gala ceremony in Brisbane on August 31. 'I would definitely agree and not just because I've been riding him,' Harley said. 'For a horse to go from a maiden to a Group 1 winner in the space of two months - over all different distances and kinds of tracks - he has conquered more than any other two-year-old in Australia this year.' The father-and-son Munce partnership has said that Cool Archie would be spelled for the spring and set for next autumn's $4m Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick. It comes after a gruelling winter campaign in which the colt embarked on an incredible five-race winning streak in all conditions. Martin Harley steers Cool Archie home in the Group 1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography • Rutledge's 'omen' win on The Irish written in the stars While Cool Archie is resting, a recharged Harley will be coming down from cloud nine to reset for the 2025-26 racing season in Brisbane which starts on Friday. Looking at the bigger picture, the affable Irishman hopes to travel interstate this spring carnival for a few feature races after proving he can handle the pressure of riding in majors. 'Sydney and Melbourne are tough, there are a lot of good jockeys there, but I'll be putting my hand up for a few rides down south if I can get them,' he said. 'You can get brought back to earth pretty quickly in this game but we showed them we can score at the top level and can get the job done in high-pressure races. 'But I'm definitely not getting too far ahead of myself. I had five Group 1 winners that came pretty quick and then it took another 10 years to crack it for my other one (in the JJ Atkins).' Jockey Martin Harley. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography • 'This isn't a novelty': Female hoops set up for success In the meantime, Harley can look back at that memorable day on June 14 when his dream of finally winning a Group 1 in Australia became reality. 'I went into the jockeys' room that day and I can honestly tell you, there wasn't one jockey who begrudged me the win,' he said. 'They were that happy for me and that made me even more proud.' Originally published as Rejuvenated Martin Harley hopes gun colt Cool Archie will define his career
Courier-Mail
a day ago
- Courier-Mail
'Bit of a feel about her': New level Within reach for Baker filly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is quietly confident exciting filly Within The Law can go to another level in the spring as he sets his sights on the upcoming Princess Series. Within The Law is one of several spring contenders set to step out at Tuesday's barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens with the filly set to line up in a 900m heat. PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The daughter of Lucky Vega is on the third line of betting at $8 for the Group 1 Flight Stakes with Baker keen to follow the tried and true three-year-old fillies path through the spring, which kicks off with the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 23. 'She is going super,' Baker said. 'We will go through the fillies series and I think she has come back a little bit bigger and stronger. 'You don't get carried away but she has the temperament and everything about her suggests maybe she can be a filly that can go on to that next level. 'With two-year-olds, it's always a bit of a question mark but I have a bit of a feel about her.' It was a remarkable two-year-old season for Within The Law that could have ended in disaster. She won the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes before escaping serious injury when she went through the running rail and lost her rider in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. Within The Law was able to get back to the races to finish third in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes and then came a close second to Nepotism in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. 'She did a great job and is more of a raceday racehorse rather than a trackworker,' Baker said. 'From that point of view I think, she may be able to step up another level.' She won't be the only two-year-old stepping out on the morning with a plethora of youngsters lining up, including Skyhook, West Of Swindon, State Visit, Blitzburg, King Of Pop, Memo and North England. Baker also has last start Group 1 Sydney Cup winner Arapaho having his first trial over 1000m in a heat that also includes stablemate Perfumist. Group 1 performer Lindermann is among the Chris Waller-trained spring hopefuls set to step out while Canadian Group 1 winner Moira is in the same 900m heat. Waller will also saddle up his first trialist in the Godolphin royal blue with Commemorative in a 900m heat. Originally published as Bjorn Baker predicting big things for exciting filly Within The Law this spring
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Peter Moody says immature filly Ole Dancer ‘has the quality' for spring after return win at Caulfield
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Less could be more if strong Caulfield winner Ole Dancer makes it to the Group 1 Thousand Guineas in October. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly remained unbeaten in the 2YO Handicap (1200m), the former said the two-year-old had plenty of improving to do. Premiership-leading jockey Blake Shinn had to push Ole Dancer off the leaders' heels into clear running in the straight but the $3.90 favourite comfortably held off the honest Thanks Gorgeous ($6.50) to win by a length. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet IQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'She got a little bit lost when she went to the front but she's a quality filly that is still quite immature but I think she's got nice upside to come,' Moody said. 'I think she's got the quality to be running in spring races but whether she has the maturity will probably be the question mark.' Ole Dancer easily won the SA Magic Millions Classic on debut at Murray Bridge in March before making it two wins from as many starts at Caulfield. However, Moody said the Ole Kirk filly had not shown 'as much (development) as I would have liked' in the months between her first and second starts. The rising three-year-old's immaturity means Moody and Coleman were likely to give Ole Dancer one run between Saturday and the Thousand Guineas (1600m) on October 18. 'If she got to a race like a Thousand Guineas, she'd probably get there on one run, she's that type of filly,' Moody said. 'She won't need a lot of racing due to a lack of maturity so we'll just monitor that as we go along. 'Maybe there will be something in the back end of August. 'Well give her another month and a pretty easy time of it and find another 12 (00) or 1300(m) or something like that.' Ole Dancer gave Moody and Coleman their 29th city win of the season, leaving the Pakenham-based duo sixth in the Melbourne trainers' premiership. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ STYLISH BIRTHDAY PRESENT Stylish Secret gave trainer Mick Nolan an early 70th birthday present with victory at Caulfield. Stylish Secret overhauled Verona Rupes with every bit of fitness acquired from seven preceding starts for the campaign to get the result – Nolan's first Caulfield winner. 'My first runners I had at Moonee Valley, Flemington and Sandown all won,' Nolan said. 'I've been a bit cranky, I've had to wait four (starters) for this, but I've got them all now.' Nolan, who turns 70 on Sunday, will celebrate the birthday with Stylish Secret owners and '10 stubbies too many'. 'It's going to be great, all the owners are going to be there,' Nolan said. 'You only get to 70 once in your life.' Stylish Secret covered 13,500 race metres the past seven starts, building to the 2400m 3YO Open Handicap win. 'I sent an audio this morning (owners' update), I added it up (distance raced) … said it's done 15,000 metres, Bart (Cummings)only had to do 10,000 (metres),' Nolan said. Cups King Bart Cummings had a theory stayers required 10,000 metres under the belt to prepare for the Melbourne Cup. FAMILY MATTERS Jockey Matt Cartwright sealed a special win aboard Pop Award for his grandmother and mother, trainers Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor, at Caulfield on Saturday. Cartwright went stride for stride in the straight Blake Shinn-ridden favourite Verdoux and got the result late in the 1100m Benchmark 78. Shinn had ridden Pop Award to victory last campaign but could not quite get the 55kg required on Saturday. 'I know I'm family but I'm still thankful I got the ride on her because of the 55kg,' Cartwright said. 'There was a bit of pressure around, obviously I'm not Blake Shinn. 'I'm glad I could give her (Pop Award) a good ride and she won well.' Cartwright felt comfortable throughout on Pop Award despite the mare being first-up. Cartwright is set to ride in New Zealand next season. DICTIONARY ROLLS ODDS-ON 'CHAMPION' Trainer John Moloney was almost apologetic after his charge Dictionary outslugged Jimmy The Bear in the VOBIS Gold Stayers(2400m). Blinkers made all the difference to Dictionary ($14) while jockey Daniel Stackhouse's ground-saving ride contributed to the gelding's upset win over the $1.45 favourite. 'To knock off the legend Jimmy The Bear, well that's a bit special,' Moloney said. 'You never want to knock down a champion and he's been the champion of this winter so we were lucky to beat him.' 'Jimmy has nearly done everything (to win) but it's a treat to be able to pull the race off.' Dictionary ran third in last year's edition of the $175,000 race before prevailing in Saturday's five-horse field. BLUEBLOOD ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOUR To switch up the saying, $1.6m is one person's trash while another's $65,000 is treasure. Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier paid $1.6m for Behaviour at a yearling sale in 2023 before syndicator Flying Start snapped up the son of I Am Invincible for just $65,000 at an online sale in January. Chris Waller was unsuccessful in four cracks with Behaviour but the gelding posted his second win in six starts for Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood in the 3YO Handicap (1200m). Jockey Jamie Melham continued her winning return from holidays when she brought Behaviour home over the top of Craig Williams's mount Bossy Benita. 'It was a perfectly executed ride and I'm just grateful he was sent my way,' Bedggood said. – additional reporting by Gilbert Gardiner Originally published as Peter Moody says immature filly Ole Dancer 'has the quality' to race in spring after her return win at Caulfield
